This is for YOU if you survived the gauntlet of the misguided "War
On Drugs." The constant "CFS/ME Pain" had become so severe that you
had to bite your pillow to stifle your own screams; but your pleas
for prescription pain medication were ignored as you dragged
yourself from one physician to the next. Just when you were on the
brink of suicide SOLELY to escape the untreated pain, you found a
compassionate physician! Since then, you've dangled from a
precarious tightrope between physician, pharmacist and law
enforcement - a delicate balance, always in jeopardy of collapsing
and taking your life with it! And as if "the tightrope" weren't
enough, it seems you've unwittingly given Walgreen Pharmacists power
over your life because of a SECRET Internal Policy letting ANY
Pharmacist unilaterally "flag" YOUR records with "WATCH NARCS" that
I translate to "Suspected drug addict/pusher" although Walgreen
would disagree.

The words "WATCH NARCS" recently appeared with my name,
address and other identification on a label accompanying a
non-narcotic prescription medication! Once entered in the computer,
it's apparently on all Walgreen records available to Pharmacy staff
everywhere including clerks! Particularly disturbing was an empty
space adjacent to this label. I obtained the following information
from two reluctant Walgreen Pharmacists: The adjacent space was, in
fact, due to removal of a duplicate label that was "safely" filed on
the back of my RX form. I was NOT supposed to see or know about the
label! Nor was I to know about Walgreen's Internal Policy for which
there is no State or Federal requirement. It's an option available
to ANY Walgreen Pharmacist, without supervisory review or approval.
They refused to say who labeled me a "suspected drug addict/pusher",
why or when. Neither Pharmacist had knowledge of "CFS/ME". One could
not pronounce "... Encephalomyelitis." Neither replied when asked,
"Wouldn't a 3 minute chat with me and/or my physician about the RX
you found so disturbing have been appropriate before "labeling" me a
"suspected drug addict/pusher"? If they had spoken with my
physician, they would have learned of his 30 years' experience with
"CFS/ME"; the DEA is very impressed with his procedures, safeguards,
records, etc.

My comments and conclusions: This is an ARROGANT, secret
Internal Policy of questionable motivation, implemented in the
private-sector despite no existing Government requirement. This
thinly veiled allegation of drug addiction/"pushing" is a stigma of
which the customer has no knowledge and, therefore, no opportunity
to dispute. It is exercised arbitrarily and unilaterally by
unqualified persons (practicing medicine without a license) without
oversight or accountability... virtually on a whim! If specific
procedures exist, they are flawed as evidenced by my POSSESSION of a
label I was NEVER supposed to see. Although told the duplicate is in
their file, how can I be confident it (or others) isn't with the
Drug Enforcement Agency, my Health Insurance Company, or "reading
material in some Jack J. Jackson, Jr's bathroom"?

SINCE THIS HAPPENED TO ME, IT CAN HAPPEN TO ANYONE: I wish I
had some encouraging words; but it only gets worse ... and regarding
"CFS/ME", we all know that ignorance is NOT bliss! Having been "to
the very edge of my tolerance" (and back because of a blessed
physician AND most intelligent, compassionate person I have EVER
known, Dr. _____ from my very first "controlled substance" RX, I was
meticulous with every imaginable precaution! A few examples are: I
gave Walgreen a detailed letter stating that I am under the purview
of and in compliance with Federal and CA Laws, etc. I explained in
detail, verbally and in writing, any time the quantity was larger
than normal. When they dispensed too many tablets, I phoned to
assure the Pharmacist the tablets were safe with me and returned
them within hours! I assured all Pharmacists that any questions were
always welcome at any time! I submitted RXs from ONE physician only!
I used ONE Pharmacy exclusively! The type, strength or dosage of my
pain medication has not escalated, even though taken daily for TEN
years! After careful self-evaluation to determine whether I might
have caused this dangerous mistreatment, I merely conclude that
perhaps I submitted a "controlled substance" RX when a Pharmacist
was in an ugly mood or on a "Power Trip." But that's NO reason to
jeopardize my LIFE!

These Pharmacists do NOT understand (or care) how easily this
arbitrary "WATCH NARCS" destroys the delicate balance between
physician/pharmacist/law enforcement SPECIFICALLY regarding persons
with "CFS/ME". It's a "DEATH SENTENCE" if law enforcement contacts a
physician who is intimidated into denying further RXs and/or Health
Insurance Companies stop coverage. They are unaware of the extreme
risks attached to a "CFS/ME" diagnosis. They are ignorant of the
mistreatment EVERYone with "CFS/ME Intractable Pain" has surely
suffered if they have survived long enough to find a compassionate
physician. Yet Walgreen carelessly granted such overwhelming power,
without oversight, accountability or even "CFS/ME qualifications!"
And to do this in total secrecy, as though they KNOW it's wrong?!
Not only are there no such State or Federal requirements, this
optional Internal Policy seems in conflict with the general
philosophy of the California Pharmacy Board's guidelines. WHY? WHAT
is Walgreen's motivation for this SECRET Internal Policy?

Although a Walgreen Pharmacist stated that the offensive
annotation was removed from MY records, how can I be sure that it
wasn't merely recorded "elsewhere"? As a close friend in the Midwest
said, "Some of these prescriptions are reported as though they were
court documents and nearly made lifelong public records." She makes
an excellent point that perhaps we should all consider. One thing
I'M sure of is that this "CONTROL" is contrary to one of MY basic
beliefs ... that, barring for example DEATH for commission of a
capital crime, the ONLY persons entitled to "LIFE OR DEATH POWER"
over me are MY licensed medical doctor and ME!

[Ed. Note: The author is a long-term PWME/C. The physician
of the author was consulted for this article and, although agreeing
to be named, is not for protection purposes.]